KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 10 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Malaysia’s Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo today called on local companies to accelerate their understanding and implementation of new digital tools, processes and technologies to stay competitive.
Recognising that technology, media and consumer trends are evolving at a rapid pace, he said the Pakatan government has taken various steps to facilitate the leap for businesses into the new age.
“This is why my ministry launched the RM21.6 billion National Fiberisation and Connectivity Plan (NFCP) on 19 Sept this year to improve our country’s economic competitiveness through connectivity and to bridge the digital divide between rural and urban areas,” he said when launching the 3rd Annual National Malaysian Indian Digital Economy Conference 2019, on Tuesday.
He said Malaysia has long recognised the importance of the digital economy where in 1996, the then (and also current) Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had launched the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) to transform Malaysia into a modern state with the adoption of a knowledge-based framework.
“Today, we are facing yet another dramatic phase in the tech realm known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution or IR 4.0 with constant breakthroughs in Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data, Virtual Reality (VR) and so on,” he said.
Gobind also underlined that under Budget 2020, the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) received an allocation of RM10 million to train local micro-digital entrepreneurs and technologists to leverage on e-marketplace and social media platforms to sell their products.
At the event today, the minister also said the Pakatan government has been sensitive to the needs and specific challenges faced by segments of the Indian community.
He called on the Indian business community to take full advantage of the opportunities available in the evolving digital era.
Gobind Singh Deo checking out the VR headset as Co Founder of VR HUB Dhanesh Basil explains on the mobile virtual reality VR HUB during the 3rd National Malaysian Indian Digital Economy Conference 2019 at Asia Pasific University of Technology and Innovation today. Looking on (left) is Sec Gen of MAICCI V Shankar. Photo courtesy of BERNAMA
To demonstrate its commitment, the government has, under Budget 2020, allocated RM100 million to the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (Mitra) to improve the socio-economic situation, skills development, health, education and women empowerment of the Indian community, he said.
“I am confident that if all of you take full advantage of all the opportunities available in this digital era, the Malaysian Indian business community will be able to contribute to the national economy in a strong and sustainable manner,” he added.
Meanwhile, other measures taken by the government to push up the competitiveness of Malaysian companies, Gobind said MDEC was also given RM70 million to set up 14 one-stop Digital Enhancement Centres (DEC) in all states to facilitate access to financing and capacity-building for businesses, especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
To further accelerate digital adoption, Gobind said the government also introduced a 50 per cent matching grant of up RM5,000 per company for SMEs that adopt digitalisation measures.
“A further RM550 million smart automation matching grant will also be provided to 1,000 manufacturing and 1,000 services companies that automate their business processes. This grant will be given on a matching basis up to RM2 million per company,” he added.
–NNN-BERNAMA
